The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-07-28
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breaking" when applied 10 colts reared
by intelligent and humane horssmen.
Though manys colt 10 broken" IN train
Ing. there 10 seldom. IL ever. any necessity
for sneh course. Takes sucker" when
be is too yonng 10 have any very pro-
nounced opinions Of his own. and there
will be found but little trouble 10 making
him understand that his mssier 10 really
his best friesd. When this has been 40
eomplished no further trouble need be
anticipated. 90 far A. an intelligent colt Ia
concerned Unfortunately, occasionally
i. happens that horse Is met with that
has been fool, aud ofsuoh an animal II 10
difficult IL not Impossible " mske . horse
that can ever DO handled with any degree
OF safety. II often happens shs' q really
intelligent horse becomes possessed OF .
vice that is troublesome and dangerous,
but such case never presents the difi-
culties which characterize that OF horse
that has been born fool. As long as
horse has intelligence be can be educated.
no matter how strongly unfounded pre-
judice may misleAd him. More than %
per cent. Of the foals have quite enough
intelligence to enable them to get through
the world pleasantly and satisfactorily. but
the reason that 30 many horses are addicted
to troublesome and dangerous vices is TO
be found In faulty education.
Too often the system Of handling colts
is something as follows;
The young thing is allowed to run with
his dam aud TO make no human scquaint-
aaces All he knows about boys and men
is that whenever they can get near him
they hit him with . whip or make some
to HIM horrid noise that thoroughly
terriies him. He very quickly comes to
look upon boys and men as the most
dangerous and troublesome enemies OF the
equine race in general Of himself in par
ticulsr. This State OF affairs continues
till he is two or three years old. Then
some day be finds himself being chased
about . paddock and worried till be is
half dead with fright and fatigue, and
finally from sheer exhaustion he is com
PEELED to allow himself TO be handled. He
does not know what is wanted OF him, and
all that he learns about it comes in the
shape Of bitter experience. After trying
every other course escape punishment and
fright, with disastrous results. he gives
himself over IN sheer desperation to sort
OF sullen despair, and Allows himself to be
pushed about by his tormentors or hanled
about by another horse that is harnessed
with him, just because he has given up
all hope OF escaping the prosecutions OF
his enemies. His spirit is broken and be
is pronounced broken to harness. He is
now obedient so far as he knows how to
be, but he is so because he dare not be
anything else, aud not from any desire on
his part to do what is right. Such horse
may do what is requir, OF him. but be is
liable to run away il suddenly frightened.
to kick il anything touches bis heels. and,
ia short. to do almost anything that is
Objectionable in the very emergency when
bis good behavior would be most highly
priced by bis master. That is what may
properly be styled "breaking" 3 colt.
II q man wants an educated" horse be
should begin by winning his confidence
during the foal's babyhood. the sooner the
better. II does not much matter what the
Is taught during his first sum
mer, SO long as he is thoroughly familiar
zed with the halter and accustomed to |
being handled freely (though always kind.
y and with gentleness). lie soon learns
% regard those who handle and feed him
With the warmest friendship, and his
highest ambition will be to merit their
Ipproval as evidenced by kind word,
aress, or some little dainty Of which be
happens to be particularly fond. As be
yrows little older he should be accus
)med to the bit, TO the harness, and to
ther appliances to be used when be shall
ave arrived at . proper age to go into
nsiness. In this way the youngster
eally grows into bis work. He is taught
o carry bis head properly. to draw, to
urn, to back, to be mounted, harnessed
n / embarrassed, all without any painful
c unpleasant process. He grows mp to be,
OF the cowed slave, but the trusted. we'll
red friend OF his master. All that he
oes he does cheeriully and pleasantly; in
hort, he is an educated" and not s"bro'
en- one. -Fmmiag World